Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently met with BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) members and discussed matters regarding the organisational elections here at Bhopal. Chief Minister expressed his views on the recently occurred Jhabhua blasts, and candidly spoke to party members about how he had personally taken the tradegy and what he felt about it. Elaborating on the blasts, its impact and the damage that was caused to people in the area, Chauhan said that the tragedy that occurred in Jhabua`s Petlawad town was the saddest incident of his life which has posed a challenge to the political leadership and administration. Expressing the fast action that his government had taken to provide relief to the aggrieved, as well as relief measures to the family members of deceased, Chauhan stated that prompt action taken up by his ruling government had provided some reprise to the Petlawad affected families, and the public anger that erupted after blasts in Jhabua district has subsided as people are satisfied the state government is working over their concerns.

Taking a view on law and administration matters concerned with this tragedy, Chauhan stated that all those who had been found responsible for the blast, especially those who were found guilty based on prima facie evidence, have been punished. Further, a reward of Rs.1 lakh has been announced over the head of the main accused. Chauhan said – Our effort is to bring life in Petlawad town on track. A cancer affected child who lost his father in the incident is being sent to Ahmedabad for treatment. The government would bear the entire medical expenditure of the injured.

On his visit to the blast site recently, Chauhan expressed some satisfaction over response that he could gather from the localites. Chauhan said – A candle march has been taken out in Petlawad and the anger has subsided. When I returned from there, people raised slogans to express thanks and satisfaction over my work.

Opposition had been taking a continuous dig at the failure of ruling Shivraj government since the attacks. CM Chauhan took cognizance of opposition’s criticism and clarified to the party members that the Congress must be condemned in in strong words for playing dirty politics on human tragedy.

A total of 88 people were killed and over 100 injured in a gas cylinder blast on Saturday in Petlawad town`s Sethia Hotel and another blast in a nearby godown belonging to Rajendra Kaswa where explosives used in mining were stored.